Ravens 28, Dolphins 13
With three touchdowns from quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens (8-5) took control of their AFC playoff destiny while putting a significant hit on any January plans the Dolphins (7-6) might have been toying with. Baltimore trailed 10-0 after the first quarter, but its defense gave up just three points the rest of the way and buried Miami QB Ryan Tannehil under six sacks.
Game Leaders:
- Ravens – Elvis Dumervill: 3.5 sacks
- Ravens – Terrell Suggs: 1.5 sacks
- Dolphins – Reshad Jones: 10 tackles, 8 solo
[divider]Colts 25, Browns 24
For 59 minutes and 28 seconds it probably felt pretty good to be a Browns (7-6) fan. But, with Johnny Clipboard checking his Tinder matches on the sideline, a real quarterback won the game as Andrew Luck hit T.Y. Hilton on a one-yard strike with just 32 seconds to go for the Colts (9-4). In spite of a two-interception, 45 percent completion, 31.7 QB rating performance, Cleveland never gave Brian Hoyer the hook. The Browns defense outscored its offense Sunday 14-10.
Game Leaders:
- Colts – Luck: 294 yards passing and 2 TDs
- Colts – Hilton: 10 catches, 150 yards, 2 TDs
- Colts – Jerrell Freeman: 9 tackles, 7 solo
- Browns – Craig Robertson: 12 tackles, 10 solo
[divider]Lions 34, Buccaneers 17
After single-handedly ruining your fantasy football team for weeks, Calvin Johnson once again showed you why you drafted him in the first place, helping Detroit (9-4) cruise to victory over the hapless Bucs (2-11). Quarterback Matt Stafford laid down another solid performance in spite of being sacked six times.
Game Leaders:
- Lions – Stafford: 331 yards, 3 TDs
- Lions – Johnson: 8 catches, 158 yards, 1 TD
- Lions – DeAndre Levy: 2 sacks
- Bucs – Vincent Jackson: 10 catches, 159 yards
- Bucs – Mike Evans: 2 TD catches
- Bucs – Jacquies Smith: 2 sacks
[divider]Texans 27, Jaguars 13
The Jaguars led early thanks to a 4-yard touchdown reception from breakout rookie wideout Allen Hurns, but a steady dose of running back Arian Foster finally buried Jacksonville (2-11) in the second half. Jags QB Blake Bortles had another solid, if unspectacular day and didn’t turn the ball over, in spite of getting introduced to Houston (7-6) defensive end J.J. Watt extensively all game.
Game Leaders:
- Texans – Foster: 24 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD
- Texans – Watt: 3 sacks
- Jags – Sen’Derrick Marks: 1.5 sacks
[divider]Broncos 24, Bills 17
Before this game the thought of Bills QB Kyle Orton outperforming Peyton Manning in anything other than a pie-eating contest seemed ridiculous. But that’s what happened but since he plays for Buffalo (7-6), it really didn’t matter. Manning tossed two picks and a Tebow-esque 173 yards in the win. The Broncos (10-3) got all their touchdowns on the ground. The game wasn’t as close as the final score. Orton pushed into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown with just 55 seconds to go in the game to get within seven.
Game Leaders:
- Broncos – C.J. Anderson: 3 TD runs
- Broncos – David Burton, Bradley Roby and Brandon Marshall all had 9 solo tackles
- Bills – Orton: 355 yards passing, I TD
- Bills – Sammy Watkins: 7 catches, 127 yards
[divider]Cardinals 17, Chiefs 14
The Cardinals (10-3) managed just one touchdown against the Chiefs (7-6) to stay in the driver’s seat in the NFC West. Kansas City led 14-6 at the half after two Jamaal Charles touchdowns, but couldn’t find paydirt in the second half. After his 63-yard touchdown at 10:55 in the first quarter, Arizona held him to just 26 yards the rest of the game.
Game Leaders:
- Cards – Kerwyn Williams: 19 carries, 100 yards
- Cards – Frostee Rucker: 2 sacks
- Chiefs – Travis Kelce: 7 catches, 110 yards
- Chiefs – Justin Houston: 2 sacks
- Chiefs – Ron Parker: 9 tackles, 8 solo
[divider]Raiders 24, 49ers 13
Oakland (2-11) for some reason decided to possibly mess up their draft position with Sunday’s win over the rival across the bay. San Francisco (7-6) got another Colin Kaepernick-like performance from Colin Kaepernick with two picks, a barely 50 percent passing performance and a QB rating of 54.4, which I should remind you, is not a season low.
Game Leaders:
- Raiders – David Carr: 3 TD passes
- Raiders – Mychal Rivera: 7 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD
- Raiders – Antonio Smith: 2 sacks
- Raiders – Khalil Mack: 2 sacks
- 49ers – Chris Borland: 14 tackles, 12 solo
[divider]Seahawks 24, Eagles 14
It’s not surprising to see the Eagles (9-4) stumble against a team that can actually play defense with their gimmicky offense. Seattle (9-4) seems to be peaking at the right time on both sides of the ball. Mark Sanchez must have had N.Y. Jets flashbacks, passing for just 96 yards and a pick, but two of his 10 completed passes were for touchdowns.
Game Leaders:
- Seahawks – Russell Wilson: 2 TD passes, 1 TD run
- Seahawks – Bobby Wagner: 7 solo tackles
- Eagles – Fletcher Cox: 11 tackles, 8 solo
- Eagles – Mychal Kendricks: 11 tackles, 7 solo
Click here for an earlier recap of Week 14’s other games.
